The Buzbee Law Firm announced on Mar. 26 that a Dallas County jury awarded an $1.1 billion verdict to the family of a child who survived severe abuse, marking what is described as the largest child abuse judgment in U.S. history.
The case concerns a young child identified as B.S., who suffered life-altering injuries following an incident on April 22, 2021, while under the care of Charles Edwin Brooks, Jr., then married to the child’s mother Madison Ball. The parents filed suit against Brooks after he reported their child was unresponsive but refused to call emergency services when asked by Ball. Emergency responders found B.S. with bite marks and severe injuries that resulted in permanent brain damage and left the child wheelchair-bound and requiring round-the-clock care.
Brooks later admitted to injuring a child and was sentenced to forty years in prison. According to court records, the verdict includes $291 million in compensatory damages for B.S., along with $810 million in punitive damages for both the child and parents Madison Ball and Stephen Sampson.
Tony Buzbee, lead counsel for the family, said: “We claim we value children in our society. This Texas jury stood up and proved it. Don’t mess with Texas kids. I hope this verdict allows this precious child all of the care he needs and hopefully makes his life as good as it can be under these circumstances.”
Brooks was represented by Daniel Karp from Fee, Smith & Sharp LLP of Dallas during proceedings at Dallas County’s 134th District Court.
The Buzbee Law Firm is based in downtown Houston atop Texas’s tallest building and has participated in high-profile sexual assault cases across America, recovering over $10 billion for its clients according to information provided by the firm.
